Scenes from cartel violence and the drug war in Mexico in 2018 (chron)

By Chris Eudaily

on January 26, 2018 11:19 AM

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT. Several images in this slideshow may be inappropriate for some viewers.

Nearly 19,000 people were killed due to organized crime in Mexico in 2017, the most violent year in twenty years, according to a report revealed in January 2018 by the Mexican NGO Semaforo Delictivo. And the bloodshed appears to be continuing into 2018.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT. Several images in this slideshow may be...photo-14946372.179260 - |ucfirst

State prosecutors use a crane to remove a pick-up truck found abandoned with the bodies of six men, some of them decapitated, which are though to have been killed by alleged traffickers of a rival cartel, in Morelos neighbourhood in Guadalajara, Mexico, on March 6, 2018. Mexico has suffered a wave of violence linked to drug trafficking that has intensified in recent years. Authorities registered 25,339 murders in 2017, the most violent year since official data-keeping began in 1997. / AFP PHOTO / ULISES RUIZ (Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

State prosecutors use a crane to remove a pick-up truck found abandoned with the bodies of six men, some of them decapitated, which are though to have been killed by alleged traffickers of a rival cartel, in

State prosecutors use a crane to remove a pick-up truck found...photo-15187464.179260 - |ucfirst

State prosecutors inspect a pick-up truck found abandoned with the bodies of six men, some of them decapitated, which are though to have been killed by alleged traffickers of a rival cartel, in Morelos neighbourhood in Guadalajara, Mexico, on March 6, 2018. Mexico has suffered a wave of violence linked to drug trafficking that has intensified in recent years. Authorities registered 25,339 murders in 2017, the most violent year since official data-keeping began in 1997. / AFP PHOTO / ULISES RUIZ (Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

State prosecutors inspect a pick-up truck found abandoned with the bodies of six men, some of them decapitated, which are though to have been killed by alleged traffickers of a rival cartel, in Morelos

State prosecutors inspect a pick-up truck found abandoned with the...photo-15187466.179260 - |ucfirst

View of weapons seized by Mexican Security Forces before being destroyed at the Morelos II Military Region headquarters in Tijuana, northwestern Mexico on March 5, 2018. According to several reports made between 2009 and 2014, including a United States congressional report, about 70% of firearms seized in Mexico can be traced to the United States. / AFP PHOTO / GUILLERMO ARIAS (Photo credit should read GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP/Getty Images)

View of weapons seized by Mexican Security Forces before being destroyed at the Morelos II Military Region headquarters in Tijuana, northwestern Mexico on March 5, 2018. According to several reports made

Experts from the Chihuahua state Prosecutor's Office work in a clandestine grave where the remains of two people were found in the desert of the Juarez Valley, in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico on March 2, 2018. According to official figures from the State Attorney's Office, some 138 bones have been found from 2017 to today's date. / AFP PHOTO / HERIKA MARTINEZ (Photo credit should read HERIKA MARTINEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Experts from the Chihuahua state Prosecutor's Office work in a clandestine grave where the remains of two people were found in the desert of the Juarez Valley, in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico on March

Experts from the Chihuahua state Prosecutor's Office work in...photo-15185887.179260 - |ucfirst

Experts from the Chihuahua state Prosecutor's Office work in a clandestine grave where the remains of two people were found in the desert of the Juarez Valley, in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico on March 2, 2018. According to official figures from the State Attorney's Office, some 138 bones have been found from 2017 to today's date. / AFP PHOTO / HERIKA MARTINEZ (Photo credit should read HERIKA MARTINEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Experts from the Chihuahua state Prosecutor's Office work in a clandestine grave where the remains of two people were found in the desert of the Juarez Valley, in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico on March

Experts from the Chihuahua state Prosecutor's Office work in...photo-15185886.179260 - |ucfirst

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Investigators arrive at the crime scene where two women and a man were killed on Rufo Figueroa neighborhood of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on February 15, 2018. During the attack also a man was killed and another one was wounded in the context of a wave of violence due to fight between drug cartels. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO ROBLES (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP/Getty Images)

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Investigators arrive at the crime scene where two women and a man were killed on Rufo Figueroa neighborhood of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on February 15, 2018. During the

Forensic medical personnel arrive at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least six people died and another was wounded Thursday in an attack perpetrated at a seafood restaurant in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. / AFP PHOTO / ULISES RUIZ (Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Forensic medical personnel arrive at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least six

Forensic medical personnel collect evidence at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least six people died and another was wounded Thursday in an attack perpetrated at a seafood restaurant in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. / AFP PHOTO / ULISES RUIZ / GRAPHIC CONTENT (Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Forensic medical personnel collect evidence at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At

Forensic medical personnel collect evidence at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least six people died and another was wounded Thursday in an attack perpetrated at a seafood restaurant in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. / AFP PHOTO / ULISES RUIZ (Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Forensic medical personnel collect evidence at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At

Forensic medical personnel remove a corpse at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least six people died and another was wounded Thursday in an attack perpetrated at a seafood restaurant in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. / AFP PHOTO / ULISES RUIZ (Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Forensic medical personnel remove a corpse at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At

Forensic medical personnel collect evidence at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least six people died and another was wounded Thursday in an attack perpetrated at a seafood restaurant in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. / AFP PHOTO / ULISES RUIZ / GRAPHIC CONTENT (Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Forensic medical personnel collect evidence at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At

A police officer stands guard near the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least six people died and another was wounded Thursday in an attack perpetrated at a seafood restaurant in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. / AFP PHOTO / ULISES RUIZ (Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

A police officer stands guard near the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least six

Forensic medical personnel cover a corpse at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least six people died and another was wounded Thursday in an attack perpetrated at a seafood restaurant in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. / AFP PHOTO / ULISES RUIZ / GRAPHIC CONTENT (Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Forensic medical personnel cover a corpse at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least

Forensic medical personnel remove a corpse at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At least six people died and another was wounded Thursday in an attack perpetrated at a seafood restaurant in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. / AFP PHOTO / ULISES RUIZ / GRAPHIC CONTENT (Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Forensic medical personnel remove a corpse at the crime scene where armed men attacked a restaurant killing six men in Tlaquepaque municipality in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on February 8, 2018. At

A soldier of the Mexican Army stands in front of Baby Lobster and Sexy Drink bars after an evening shoot-out were several people were wounded by firearms at the touristic neighborhood of Condesa in Acapulco resort, Guerrero State, Mexico on January 28, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO ROBLES (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP/Getty Images)

A soldier of the Mexican Army stands in front of Baby Lobster and Sexy Drink bars after an evening shoot-out were several people were wounded by firearms at the touristic neighborhood of Condesa in Acapulco

Forensic personnel and personnel of Guerrero state attorney's office work next to a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 25, 2018. Guerrero is one of Mexico's poorest and most violent states, where a lucrative drug trade has flourished. less

Forensic personnel and personnel of Guerrero state attorney's office work next to a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 25, ... more

Photo: FRANCISCO ROBLES, AFP/Getty Images

Forensic personnel and personnel of Guerrero state attorney's...photo-14946285.179260 - |ucfirst

Police officers stand guard as personnel of Guerrero state attorney's office work next to a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 25, 2018. Guerrero is one of Mexico's poorest and most violent states, where a lucrative drug trade has flourished. less

Police officers stand guard as personnel of Guerrero state attorney's office work next to a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January ... more

A van of the Forensic Service remains by a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 25, 2018. Guerrero is one of Mexico's poorest and most violent states, where a lucrative drug trade has flourished. less

A van of the Forensic Service remains by a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 25, 2018. Guerrero is one of Mexico's poorest ... more

Photo: FRANCISCO ROBLES, AFP/Getty Images

A van of the Forensic Service remains by a car which was found with...photo-14946294.179260 - |ucfirst

View of a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 25, 2018. Guerrero is one of Mexico's poorest and most violent states, where a lucrative drug trade has flourished less

View of a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 25, 2018. Guerrero is one of Mexico's poorest and most violent states, where a ... more

Photo: FRANCISCO ROBLES, AFP/Getty Images

View of a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in...photo-14946286.179260 - |ucfirst

A police officer stands guard as personnel of Guerrero state attorney's office work next to a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 25, 2018. Guerrero is one of Mexico's poorest and most violent states, where a lucrative drug trade has flourished. less

A police officer stands guard as personnel of Guerrero state attorney's office work next to a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on ... more

View of a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 25, 2018. Guerrero is one of Mexico's poorest and most violent states, where a lucrative drug trade has flourished. less

View of a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in the outskirts of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 25, 2018. Guerrero is one of Mexico's poorest and most violent states, where a ... more

Photo: FRANCISCO ROBLES, AFP/Getty Images

View of a car which was found with three calcined bodies inside in...photo-14946296.179260 - |ucfirst

More than four hundred kilos of cocaine seized in the port city of Veracruz, are incinerated in this Mexican city on January, 16, 2018. Navy, Federal and Criminal Investigation Agency authorities witnessed the incineration of the drug - valued at five million dollars.

More than four hundred kilos of cocaine seized in the port city of Veracruz, are incinerated in this Mexican city on January, 16, 2018. Navy, Federal and Criminal Investigation Agency authorities witnessed the

More than four hundred kilos of cocaine seized in the port city of...photo-14900158.179260 - |ucfirst

A Mexican marine observes the burning of more than four hundred kilos of cocaine that were seized in the port city of Veracruz, in this Mexican city, on January, 16, 2018. Navy, Federal and Criminal Investigation Agency authorities witnessed the incineration of the drug - valued at five million dollars.

Relatives of Mexican journalist Carlos Dominguez Rodriguez -murdered on January 13 in the state of Tamaulipas- carry his coffin upon arrival at the cemetery in the community of Nuxco in the municipality of Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero state, Mexico on January 17, 2018. Dominguez, who became the first journalist killed in Mexico in 2018, had been working in the local newspaper "Diario de Nuevo Laredo" until a couple of months ago. Mexico is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world to practice journalism, with more than 200 journalists killed since 2000. less

Relatives of Mexican journalist Carlos Dominguez Rodriguez -murdered on January 13 in the state of Tamaulipas- carry his coffin upon arrival at the cemetery in the community of Nuxco in the municipality of ... more

A grandson of Mexican journalist Carlos Dominguez Rodriguez -murdered on January 13 in the state of Tamaulipas- mourns over his coffin during the funeral at the cemetery in the community of Nuxco in the municipality of Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero state, Mexico on January 17, 2018. Dominguez, who became the first journalist killed in Mexico in 2018, had been working in the local newspaper "Diario de Nuevo Laredo" until a couple of months ago. Mexico is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world to practice journalism, with more than 200 journalists killed since 2000. less

A grandson of Mexican journalist Carlos Dominguez Rodriguez -murdered on January 13 in the state of Tamaulipas- mourns over his coffin during the funeral at the cemetery in the community of Nuxco in the ... more

Guerrero policemen are seen during the arrest of a member of the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC) after a series of clashes that left at least 11 people dead at La Concepcion village, Acapulco municipality, in Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 7, 2018. At least 11 people were killed and 30 arrested during armed clashes among civilians, community guards and police in a rural area of Acapulco, in southern Mexico, the Guerrero government confirmed.

Guerrero policemen are seen during the arrest of a member of the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC) after a series of clashes that left at least 11 people dead at La Concepcion village,

Guerrero policemen are seen during the arrest of a member of the...photo-14804814.179260 - |ucfirst

A member of the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC) is arrested by Guerrero state policemen after a series of clashes that has left at least 11 people dead at La Concepcion village, Acapulco municipality, in Guerrero state, Mexico, on January 7, 2018. At least 11 people were killed and 30 arrested during armed clashes among civilians, community guards and police in a rural area of Acapulco, in southern Mexico, the Guerrero government confirmed.

A member of the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC) is arrested by Guerrero state policemen after a series of clashes that has left at least 11 people dead at La Concepcion village, Acapulco

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT. Several images in this slideshow may be inappropriate for some viewers.

Nearly 19,000 people were killed due to organized crime in Mexico in 2017, the most violent year in twenty years, according to a report revealed in January 2018 by the Mexican NGO Semaforo Delictivo. And the bloodshed appears to be continuing into 2018.